AllTech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy: Great atmosphere guaranteed with the Alltech Music Festival

At the 2010 Games in Lexington, Alltech gave spectators the chance to enjoy a variety of evening concerts in addition to the sporting competitions. It is with the same festive spirit that, for the 2014 edition in Normandy, Alltech wanted to organise 8 incredible evenings of entertainment spread over the fortnight.

There will be music for all tastes thanks to the festival’s highly varied programme: disco with the legendary Kool and the Gang, pop-rock with The Lanskies, hip-hop with Casseurs Flowters and even an Irish evening with We Banjo 3. Well-known artists such as Aloe Blacc (I need a Dollar, Wake me Up), the cream of the American scene, and even Louis Bertignac, none other than the former guitarist of the group Téléphone, will be there, but many other artists from the local scene will also be on hand to give spectators a taste of different musical styles. And the “horsey” theme will also feature thanks to a country evening on 29 August, which will give spectators the opportunity to learn how to line dance, taught by the Caen Country Dance association.

All in all, this colourful festival will offer around thirty hours of live music for an audience of 10,000 spectators from 7pm onwards, with free entry for visitors of the Games Village!

One thing is for sure: there will be a great atmosphere in the Games Village!

Sunday 24 August: Opening Concert

• Kool and the Gang: a famous R&B and Soul group from the 60s which has sold more than 70 million albums worldwide and influenced the music of three generations with songs such as “Celebration” and “Jungle Boogie”.
• Soul Vintage Orchestra: The “SOUL VINTAGE ORCHESTRA” is comprised of 8 professional artists who perform rhythmic music anchored in Afro-American Soul Music tradition.

Monday 25 August: Quebec Evening

• Mes souliers sont rouges: a band from Caen formed in 1991 that plays French and traditional Quebecois music.
• Misteur Valaire: an electro-jazz band from Quebec which was formed in 2004. In recent years, they have played at various internationally-renowned festivals, including the Montreal Jazz Festival. 

Thursday 28 August: Irish Evening

• Sharon Shannon Band: Sharon Shannon is a traditional Irish musician known for her talent on the accordion. Sharon’s music has achieved legendary status throughout the world and she was given a Lifetime Achievement Award at Ireland’s 2009 Meteor Music Awards.
• We Banjo 3: featuring banjo, fiddle, mandolin, guitar, vocals and percussion, this 4-man band combines the best of Irish Music with American influences. Their first album, “Roots of the Banjo Tree” was released in 2012 and was named “Traditional Music Album of the Year” by The Irish Times.

Friday 29 August: Country Evening

• Flynnville Train: an American rock group hailing from Nashville, Flynnville Train are famous for holding concerts in unusual venues, such as a goods train.
• Kevin Buckley: An exceptional composer, songwriter, harmonica player and singer, Kevin has extensively toured for 15 years, spreading the Country sound to all four corners of France. This great showman delivers a wild show on stage.

Saturday 30 August: Acts from Caen

• Casseurs Flowters: a duo from Caen composed of rappers Orelsan and Gringe, their sound includes pearls of inventiveness, punch lines, bars of laughter, concrete sounds and rapping brilliance.
• Oldelaf: Normandy native Oldelaf, real name Olivier Delafosse, is a French singer-songwriter, comic singer and musician.

Thursday 4 September: Performances for the whole family

• Joyce Jonathan: Since she was discovered online just four years ago, Joyce Jonathan has made a name for herself as one of the most talented artists of her generation. With her first album, which was produced by Louis Bertignac, going double platinum, more than 20 million online views and over 150 sold-out concert dates as far away as Asia (in particular China), her second album entitled “Caractères” is also enjoying great success.
• Louis Bertignac: former guitarist for the rock group Téléphone, with whom he sold more than 6 million albums, Louis Bertignac is continuing his career as a solo artist, singer and songwriter. He is currently on his seventh album.

Friday 5 September: American Evening

• Aloe Blacc: Aloe Blacc is an American singer, songwriter, composer, rapper and musician. Hitting the big time thanks to hit single “I Need A Dollar”, he is currently No1 in more than 22 countries with his song “Wake Me Up”.
• Nick Waterhourse: Born in 1986, Nick Waterhouse is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer from Los Angeles, California. He is a guitarist and singer known for a sound rooted in rhythm & blues, jazz, and soul.

Saturday 6 September: Closing Concert

• Superpoze vs Fakear: a 22 year-old from Caen, Superpoze instinctively forges well-chosen chords and snippets of songs on beats and bass, creating tunes that are both original and effective. As happy composing as he is remixing, he shapes his own instrumental hip-hop style which is influenced by all kinds of genre.
• The Lanskies: Formed in 2007, the Little Princes of Hot Wave (New Wave, but with more dance influence) dust off the 80s with power and audacity. Their energy draws on the rhythms of the post-punk wave, to which they add striking guitar melodies.
• Granville: The band is named after the commune of Granville, with which each member has a particular tie. They play songs inspired by the sounds of the 60s.
• Malo: Malory Legardinier, alias Malo, is a young man from Caen who creates beautiful and fragile songs. Just like the artist himself, Malo’s writing is unusual; it has a real poetic quality which, when blended with pop or folk melodies, brings a breath of fresh air to the young French music scene.

Source: Normandie 2014